15 Day Murray Princess & Adelaide Highlights
Departs: Tuesday 28th October 2008
SUPER SAVER FARE $3288 pp twin share
The MURRAY PRINCESS is a grand scale floating palace, the exterior is like a Mississippi Paddlesteamer, but inside the spirit of colonial Australia is reflected in the period décor and fittings. An unforgettable, truly relaxing holiday cruising the scenic riverland from Mannum aboard the grand lady of the river. Cruise for four nights with all meals included while aboard. Entertainment and attractions, superb meals – English sideboard breakfasts, smorgasbord lunches and memorable dinners are served. During the touring sections of your holiday experience our “wide brown land” with stays in Gilgandra and Broken Hill contrasting with sightseeing of the lush green hills of the Barossa Valley and the culturally rich “City of Churches”, Adelaide. The return journey home includes the bountiful Sunraysia district, the Western Plains Zoo and New England sightseeing. Come discover a wealth of Holiday Memories!
DAY 1 HERVEY BAY — BRISBANE — WARWICK (LD)
Tuesday 28th October: An early start for travelling companions joining between Hervey Bay and Caboolture. Brisbane and Gold Coast passengers join at Brisbane Roma Street Transit Centre at 10.00am. Travel to Toowoomba for a special welcome lunch at the Blue Mountain Hotel to celebrate the start of your Murray Princess Holiday. On to Warwick for an informative guided tour of the well-preserved colonial churches, timber buildings, cottages, railway stations and schools. Settle into the Jackie Howe Motel.
DAY 2 WARWICK — GILGANDRA (BD)
Wednesday 29th October: Away early to travel west along the Cunningham Highway to Goondiwindi for morning tea. Cross over the McIntyre River into New South Wales. The Newell Highway takes us through vast agricultural country to Moree, situated on the Gwydir River, for lunch. The peaks of the Warrumbungle Ranges provide unforgettable scenery on the way to Gilgandra. Overnight at the Gilgandra Motel.
DAY 3 GILGANDRA — BROKEN HILL (BLD)
Thursday 30th October: Today travel through the cotton and wool producing areas of Warren and Nyngan to Cobar for lunch at a true outback pub. Trek west along the Barrier Highway. At the quaint township of Wilcannia see the impressive sandstone buildings of a bygone era when Wilcannia was the “Queen City of the West” and a key inland port for paddle steamers. Further across the arid wastelands of NSW to the oasis town of Broken Hill, created to serve miners in the rich silver, lead and zinc mines of the Barrier Range. Two nights at the Mine Host Motel.
DAY 4 BROKEN HILL SIGHTSEEING (BD)
Friday 31st October: A full day to explore the attractions of this major city on the edge of the outback. During your sightseeing you will enjoy the major attractions in Broken Hill including a comprehensive Broken Hill city sights tour, the School of The Air, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Whites Mineral Art Gallery & Mining Museum, the Miners Memorial, Pro Hart Gallery, Photographic Recollections Exhibition and the Sunset Sculpture Symposium. After a wonderful day retire to our motel for dinner.
DAY 5 BROKEN HILL — ADELAIDE (BLD)
Saturday 1st November: Up early to cross the South Australian border at the tiny settlement of Cockburn. The Barrier Highway takes us through Olary, Mannahill, Yunta and Oodla Wirra, on the way to our lunch stop at the historic old mining town of Burra with a hearty meal at the Burra Pub. Descend through the lush green hills to the “City of Churches”, Adelaide, set on the coastal plain between the rolling hills of the Mount Lofty Ranges and the blue waters of St Vincent’s Gulf. Our home for the next two nights is at the seaside suburb of Glenelg, a cosmopolitan centre alongside the beaches and waterways. Settle into the Glenelg Motor Inn for two nights.
DAY 6 ADELAIDE SIGHTSEEING (BD)
Sunday 2nd November: A full day of Adelaide sightseeing. A highlight will be a visit to The Bradman Collection, that houses some of Don Bradman’s personal memorabilia, featuring rare film footage and photographs, the bats he used and much more. See North Terrace, a Boulevard unlike any other – museums, galleries, the Adelaide University, Parliament House, Port Adelaide, Ayers House and the modern Casino. Relax as you stroll around the beautiful Adelaide Botanical Gardens and spend some free time in Rundle Mall and the City Centre. After our dinner tonight, weather permitting, we take in a night-lights tour of Adelaide, including a visit to Lights Vision, a tribute to Colonel Light who planned the city of Adelaide. Enjoy panoramic views across the Torrens River towards the city.
DAY 7 ADELAIDE — BAROSSA – CRUISING (BLD)
Monday 3rd November: Today we make our way to the Barossa Valley, Australia’s richest and best known wine making region. The valley presents a tidy pastoral landscape to the visitor of well-tended towns with solid stone houses and straight tree-lined streets. The rising spires of meticulously kept churches dominate the landscape. Travel through the avenue of date palms planted during the Depression to visit Seppeltsfield Winery for lunch. At Angaston visit Angas Park Dried Fruit Centre where a full range of dried fruit, nuts, and confectionary is available.
Early afternoon visit the National Motor Museum for a fascinating review of the history of motoring. Board the coach for travel to Mannum where mid-afternoon the PS Murray Princess departs. Cruise up river while you enjoy pre-dinner drinks and a Welcome Dinner. Floodlights on the riverbanks may reveal nocturnal wildlife. Watch for Grey Kangaroos, Hairy-nosed Wombats, Murray Long necked tortoises, spoon-beaked egrets and many other species. Night owls will enjoy the on-board entertainer. Note: Accommodation booked is inside cabins.
DAY 8 MURRAY RIVER CRUISING (BLD)
Tuesday 4th November: Up early to capture the morning wildlife. Prolific birdlife includes pelicans, blue wrens and black swans. Enjoy a leisurely morning and lunch cruising upriver to Big Bend for a vineyard coach tour to Burk Salter’s vineyard on the banks of the river. Enjoy wine tasting at the cellar door. Rejoin the Murray Princess at Swan Reach and cruise upriver. Tonight is fancy dress night (bring your own or hire one.)
DAY 9 MURRAY PRINCESS CRUISING (BLD)
Wednesday 5th November: After breakfast join a guided nature walk, then cruise downriver to Swan Reach. Join the guided walking tour and visit the Swan Reach Museum. Cruise downriver after lunch and take in the tranquillity as the landscape slides by or enjoy a lifestyle and info-cruising presentation. At Sunnydale all ashore for the Woolshed Sound & Light Show as we recreate typical Australian woolshed history. Later visit the Native Wildlife Shelter to see where native animals are cared for. Tonight there is the great Aussie Barbecue – cooked and served on the riverbank. After dinner, join us on a nocturnal eco-tour by tractor and cart.
DAY 10 MURRAY PRINCESS CRUISING (BLD)
Thursday 6th November: After breakfast the ship cruises slowly downstream past magnificent cliffs scoured by the river over millions of years. At Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal Reserve enjoy a guided boardwalk tour to view ancient rock carvings and to learn about aboriginal history in the area. After lunch the adventurous can take a speed boat ride. Cruise past large billabongs and open expanses of water, surrounded by cliffs and reeds. Tonight the Captain hosts a Captain’s Farewell Buffet. Dress up and dance, if you wish.
DAY 11 MANNUM — MILDURA (BD)
Friday 7th November: After breakfast, farewell to our magnificent floating home. Board our coach and travel the Mallee Country to Blanchetown. The Sturt Highway takes us to Waikerie where we stop for lunch. On to Renmark, known for its stone fruits, citrus, almonds and for being Australia's largest wine producing region. Continue to Mildura in the heart of the Sunraysia District. Stay overnight at the Boulevard Inn.
DAY 12 MILDURA — WEST WYALONG (BD)
Saturday 8th November: Travel the Sturt Highway catching glimpses of the Murray River. At Balranald stop for morning tea. We now trek across the flat saltbush and mallee plains where the Murrumbidgee flows. See the large scale irrigation farms of the area. In Hay free time to buy lunch before continuing our journey on the Mid Western Highway through vast unending plains to the historic town of West Wyalong. Stay overnight at the Club Inn.
DAY 13 WEST WYALONG — COONABARABRAN (BD)
Sunday 9th November: The Newell Highway take us to Forbes, then to Parkes for morning tea and a look at the huge radio telescope. On to Dubbo to visit the Western Plains Zoo, an open range zoo which is worthy of the many awards it has earned. Also in Dubbo visit the Old Dubbo Gaol to see prison life as it was over the last two centuries! Hear and see the Condemned Man, the Ghost of Old Dubbo Goal, the Executioner and the Gallows where eight men were hanged. Onto Coonabarabran, overnight at the Country Garden Motel.
DAY 14 COONABARABRAN — WARWICK (BD)
Monday 10th November: Today enjoy ever-changing scenery along the Oxley Highway through Gunnedah, Tamworth and north to Armidale for a lunch break. Enjoy a city sights tour including the many magnificent public and private buildings. Further into the New England Highlands through Guyra, Glen Innes and Tenterfield. Cross over the border back into Queensland for our last night together at the Jackie Howe Motel, Warwick.
DAY 15 WARWICK — HERVEY BAY (B)
Tuesday 11th November: There is much to reflect on after the scenic delights we have discovered on our Murray Princess and Adelaide Highlights Holiday. Travel homeward but there is time to enjoy a visit to the Danish Flower Art at Toowoomba. Farewell to all who have shared this wonderful holiday. Arrive in Brisbane mid afternoon. Northbound passengers to Hervey Bay stay on the coach with arrival in Maryborough and Hervey Bay early evening.